Secure Browsing with Windows Live Toolbar
Thursday January 17, 2008
Microsoft is aggressively taking on Google on multiple fronts from search engine, to Internet advertising, to web browser toolbars. They have created Microsoft adCenter to take on Google AdSense. Like AdSense, adCenter lets individuals or companies market their products or services through targeted keyword advertising. Microsoft rates are generally cheaper than Google, and right now Microsoft is offering an incentive where you can start an adSense account for as little as $5 and receive $50 worth of free marketing as well. Microsoft has also added new features and functionality to the latest version of their browser toolbar, Windows Live Toolbar 3.0. Like other browser toolbars, it installs itself so that it appears as a toolbar at the top of your web browser window. You can initiate web searches from anywhere on the page, or find information simply by highlighting text on a web page. The Windows Live Toolbar also lets you preview maps, weather, stock data, and even initiate phone calls over the web. You can add custom buttons to the toolbar for quick access to the features or information you want most. Like toolbars from Google and Yahoo which are featured in my Free Pop-Up Blocking Tools, the Windows Live Toolbar blocks pop-up ads. In addition, Windows Live Toolbar includes security features to help protect you against phishing scams and malware.
Click here to download Windows Live Toolbar for free.
Comments
Just a short comment about toolbars, they are very nice and cute but cause many problems with accessing the net, viewing sites, etc etc. I work in support for a major company (more than ten thousand users) and I’ve seen numerous issues which were caused by browser toolbars. Dont’t install them or, at least, keep in mind that they an excellente place to start troubleshooting browser/internet issues.
I can’t speak to whether they do or don’t cause problems, but I would say that I don’t generally recommend you install stuff on work PC’s. In theory, your employer should have security tools and policies regarding installing personal software. However, I do think that tools like this are great for home PC’s and can help protect home computer users from some of the malicious threats they encounter on the web, in addition to providing a number of convenient tools and features.